View Full Version : Cb's around CB
Just driving down towards Cooma at about 2230 and noticed some poor bugger doing what looked to be the STAR lining up with the 35(?) ILS and in front was some serious lightning which looked (from my point) to be parked over the drome. The A/C looked quite slow, possibly a helo?? Anyway, the bolts coming from the sky would've induced some cushion biting and jock stains I would think... Anyone here the driver??
avconnection
23rd Dec 2012, 13:29
Never ceases to amaze me. I've watched aircraft after aircraft (airlines) do approaches with a CB within close proximity of the field (well within guidelines) and wondered "what if". As well as the times there are cells outside recommended minimum distance but inline with the missed approach... I've whitened the "what if" twice and both occasions the missed took them strait through the magenta. Both times severe turbulence reported (no ****, really?) and both times the aircraft struggled to perform.
It makes you really wonder the mindset of these pilots and why they decided to risk it; and if they'd ever risk it again. It's a cell, it'll move on, if you go around and the next guy gets in, it doesn't make you less of a pilot or him any more of a man; It's just the circumstances of weather.
Sorry for the thread drift, a little bugbear of mine to watch people risk theirs, and other peoples lives for 15 mins of holding.
Typhoon650
23rd Dec 2012, 20:46
Agreed re the risks, especially since Canberra has no curfew.
However, the storms last night lasted until after 1am, so perhaps the slight risk as viewed from the cockpit (and they are the only ones who could see their weather radar) was considered worthwhile.
I think it might've been the south care helo as she was very slow down the approach... Certainly looked like it was at min speed....
I just saw the lightening and thought it was pretty brave to head on into it. :eek:
Hope it all ended well!
nitpicker330
24th Dec 2012, 04:59
Bit tough to criticize someone when you didn't have all the info.
Lightning can be miles away at night....... Maybe it wasn't near the field or effecting her approach path?
Or it could have been sheet lightning in mid level cloud way above her?
I'm sure she knew what she was doing.:ok:
so perhaps the slight risk as viewed from the cockpit (and they are the only ones who could see their weather radar) was considered worthwhile.
I don't want any one taking risks, slight or otherwise, with me on board.
PLovett
24th Dec 2012, 05:27
I don't want any one taking risks, slight or otherwise, with me on board.
Then don't get on board.:=
Aviation is always a risk from the moment an aircraft is dragged from the hangar. What you want are pilots who are excellent in risk management and who will not chance an unacceptable risk. ;)
She?? You know who it is? Would just like to hear how it went if the driver is here...
I'm not criticising at all btw. I'm just feeling sympathy as I've been there before and I know it's not a pleasant place to be...
Back Seat Driver
24th Dec 2012, 06:38
http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w340/I_Did_It_Photos/bbb_zps1f6ff9b3.jpg
As np330 said, the lightning might have been miles away, or not.
Tidbinbilla
24th Dec 2012, 06:49
Do you have a date and time stamp to verify the photo?
Back Seat Driver
24th Dec 2012, 06:55
Will this do Tids?
http://i521.photobucket.com/albums/w340/I_Did_It_Photos/ScreenShot2012-12-23at112207PM_zps8c500328.png
Tidbinbilla
24th Dec 2012, 07:03
Thank you kindly :) although it's approx one hour 40 after the alleged event :ok:
Photo was an hour after had seen said aircraft which indicates itmay well have, in fact probably was, parked over the field.
Tidbinbilla
24th Dec 2012, 07:38
In the interest of reasonable reporting, you state the time of observation as 2230. By my calcs, that is about 1130UTC. The photo is time stamped 1310UTC. Simple maths tells me that's 1hr 40 later than the report. In 20 years of operating scheduled services into CB, I've never seen a single, isolated cell (as in the picture) "park" over the field for an hour 40. Actually, never seen one park at all (over CB).
Ok well good point. My point being that at the time of observation, (which was me, with my eyes, not yours or anyone else's for that matter) the lightening was what appeared to be over the field. To add to my observations, there was numerous lines of slow moving cells last night in particular, so I'm sorry but I know what I saw and a radar pic taken no where near the time stated does nothing to change my observation.
And I omitted the word 'over' in my initial reply to the radar observation.
Back Seat Driver
24th Dec 2012, 08:35
In the image I posted of the storm cell NE of CBR, the trailing edge of the yellow/red area is 40km NE of Canberra moving NE. The width of the ylw/red zone is approx. 65km's.
If last nights cell moved through at about the same speed as this afternoons, then the active part of the cell lasted 'over' a point on the ground for just on an hour, and would have been over CBR just when 22k said it was. :ouch:
22k's report sounds entirely reasonable to me the way he described it.
edited for Tid's info
22k posted at 1259z and the image is stamped at 1310z, not too shabby, but I will try to do better in the future.
Next time 22k, give me an hour and a halfs notice before you see anything interesting. :ok:
Bladeangle
24th Dec 2012, 22:02
Unless you were sitting next to the bloke looking at his radar then you have no idea what the inflight conditions were. Iv been accused of the same by people on the ground seeing "lightning", big deal, doesn't mean I flew through a cell.
The 512km radar images posted hardly indicate what is happening on the ground or in the circuit area. They are usually images from at or above 10000'.
A slightly more accurate image might be the 64km or 128km.
And if you visually saw the machine joining the ILS from the "STAR" he would have been at least at 5400' (over 3500' AGL), gee must have been bad weather...
Armchair critics!
BoM Canberra Radar Loop - Rain Rate - IDR403 : 11:00 23/12/2012 UTC - 12:00 23/12/2012 UTC (http://www.theweatherchaser.com/radar-loop/IDR403-canberra/2012-12-23-11/2012-12-23-12)
YSCB 231007Z AUTO 26005KT 6000 +SHRA SCT033 BKN047 OVC115 20/17 Q1018
YSCB 231100Z AUTO 09007KT 9999 SHRA SCT031 BKN042 OVC047 19/18 Q1019 RESHRA
YSCB 231200Z AUTO 03009KT 7000 +SHRA BKN032 BKN041 OVC056 18/17 Q1018
Mate, as I've said, I'm not criticising, just hoping all went well for gods sakes.
Oh and your obviously more qualified to shoot my observation down from a position of pulling up a few metars and A radar image....
Mine was made with my eyes, NOT a metar and an opinion. As I keep saying, it's an observation. Get over yourself.
onemore
25th Dec 2012, 20:51
I find the assumption that it was the southcare helo amusing noting it doesn't fly into YSCB but operates out of its own base 5 miles south.
Google will also assist in seeing what that aircraft was actually doing that night, or just go straight to their webpage or Flightaware
Trent 972
26th Dec 2012, 01:46
Webtrak (http://webtrak.bksv.com/cbr) Canberra will give you a clue, and unless the people on Coral Drive were having a 'heavy metal' party, the Jerrabomberra noise monitoring station gives a good clue as to any thunder and lightning.